VIDEO: Bottle bombs latest tack in nasty feud in Bridgewater

Prosecutors Wednesday morning had requested $500 cash bail for each of three suspects charged in the bottle-bomb case in Bridgewater. The judge raised it to $10,000.

Amy Carboneau

The upscale neighborhood where bottle bombs were tossed on a front lawn is well-known to police, authorities said Wednesday.

Also familiar is the house, through a narrow strip of woods and close to that of the victim, where one of three suspects in the case lives.

Since 2009, police have responded to multiple calls to the house on Grange Court where homemade explosives were thrown Sunday and to a nearby house on Grange Park, where a suspect in the case lives.

“We’ve been there several times,” Police Lt. Tom Schlatz said Wednesday.

Six homemade explosives were thrown on Bob Lowder’s front lawn about 3:30 a.m. Sunday. Police said the incident may have stemmed from an ongoing land dispute in the neighborhood.

“I looked out the window. I see something explode and a huge cloud of gas go off. I’m like, ‘Wow,’” Lowder told The Enterprise on Sunday. “I ran downstairs and called the police.”

Five of the explosives blew up. The sixth, which landed just 10 feet from Lowder’s house, was defused by the state police bomb squad.

No injuries were reported.

Three suspects were arraigned in Brockton District Court on Wednesday. They had turned themselves in to police on Tuesday.

Ryan P. Whealan, 22, of 315 Grange Park, Bridgewater; Daniel J. Linehan, 23, of 110 Dean St., Taunton; and Erin O’Leary, 23, of 50 Gloria Drive, Bridgewater, were each charged with criminal harassment; possession or control of an incendiary device; throwing, placing or exploding explosives; willful discharge of a destructive device; destruction of property for more than $250; disorderly conduct; and disturbing the peace.

During their arraignment on Wednesday, prosecutors requested $500 bail for each of the suspects, who have little or no criminal records. Judge Ronald Moynihan raised the bail to $10,000 for each defendant.

Whealan, Linehan and O’Leary all posted bail on Wednesday.

Defense attorneys argued the incident was a “prank,” but Bridgewater police disagreed.

“A prank is ringing the doorbell and running away or throwing eggs at the house,” said Lt. Schlatz. “A prank isn’t a 22- or 23-year-old adult mixing chemicals that explode, causing physical or property damage.”

Lowder, the victim, told police he overheard two male and one female voice “giggling” in the woods after hearing what sounded like fireworks set off near his home, prosecutors said.

Police on Wednesday did not provide details on the reasons why police were previously called to either address. No arrests were made until now.

“This is the first time anything has amounted to the point where criminal charges needed to be filed,” Schlatz said.

No one answered the door at the Lowder or Whealan households Wednesday afternoon. The case remains under investigation.